Join the Takoma Park Library on Tuesday, August 1st at 7:30 PM for the launch of the newest book by award-winning graphic novelist Gareth Hinds. Known for his graphic novel adaptations of Shakespeare plays, Beowulf, and The Odyssey, Hinds this time tackles Edgar Allen Poe in Poe: Stories and Poems. Hinds has won critical praise for his previous books, with reviewers noting his fine line and expert use of color, shadow and perspective in bringing the emotions of a story to the fore. Politics & Prose will be selling copies of Hinds’ books, but our event is free and no purchase or registration is required to attend. Note: our event is best for teens and adults because of the gothic horror nature of Poe’s stories, amplified by Hinds’ illustrations.

About the Artist:
Gareth Hinds is the creator of critically-acclaimed graphic novels based on literary classics, including Beowulf (which Publisher’s Weekly called a “mixed-media gem”), King Lear (which Booklist named one of the top 10 graphic novels for teens), The Merchant of Venice (which Kirkus called “the standard that all others will strive to meet” for Shakespeare adaptation), The Odyssey (which garnered four starred reviews and a spot on ten “best of 2010” lists), Romeo and Juliet (which Kirkus called “spellbinding”), and Macbeth (which the New York Times called “stellar” and “a remarkably faithful rendering”). Gareth is a recipient of the Boston Public Library’s “Literary Lights for Children” award. His books can be found in bookstores and English classrooms across the country, and his illustrations have appeared in such diverse venues as the Society of Illustrators, the New York Historical Society, and over a dozen published video games.

In Colfer’s Marvel adventure, Tony Stark, also known as Iron Man, is on his way to a party one night when he notices a supposedly missing US gunboat in the waters off an uninhabited Irish island. Upon investigating this strange occurrence, he uncovers a plot to sow mayhem at an ecology conference happening nearby. Does he even have a chance of saving the day without his fellow Avengers by his side?

In Stroud’s latest Lockwood & Co. installment, Lucy has been finding work as a freelance operative. Nevertheless, she is thrilled when Lockwood appears and asks for her help; her former coworkers are not, however, equally pleased with her return. Lucy must not only find the Source of the infamous Brixton Cannibal; she must see if she can make broken friendships whole again as well.

Join us Monday, Sept. 26, at 7:30 p.m. when two kids’ comics creators present their latest books. Jeffrey Brown, known for books like Jedi Academy and Vader’s Little Princess, now turns his attention to the cave age with his new book, Lucy & Andy Neanderthal. Judd Winick, meanwhile, continues the adventures of his popular robot named HiLo in “HiLo 2: Saving the Whole Wide World.” Politics & Prose will sell books by Brown and Winick at our event, but the program is free and no purchase is required to attend.

Andy and Lucy may live 40,000 years in the past, but these Neanderthal siblings have problems—crushes, squabbles, and baby brothers— that persist today. Brown tells their story alongside nonfiction sections that serve to dispel misinformation about these human relatives.

In Winick’s sequel to Hilo, the titular heroic alien robot unexpectedly returns to Earth and human friends DJ and Gina. Then, mysterious portals pop up all over town and disgorge one terrifying creature after another. An enormous mutant chicken and a million killer vegetables are only some of the foes that Hilo, DJ, and Gina must confront in order to save their community.

Wicks, author of Human Body Theater, returns with another nonfiction graphic novel. This latest volume of the Science Comics series explores the world of coral reefs and their numerous inhabitants, discussing both their biology and their ecological importance. Learn about everything from biodiversity to sea cucumbers with a friendly fish acting as tour guide throughout the pages. Books will be available for sale from Politics & Prose

The author of the Origami Yoda series makes Guardians of the Galaxy characters Rocket and Groot the stars of the show in this illustrated first installment of a trilogy. The titular heroes—a raccoon and a tree man whose only utterance is “I am Groot”— escape a school of space piranhas only to crash-land on a planet that turns out to be one big strip mall. With their trusty sidekick Veronica, a talking tape dispenser, they sally forth and discover that this brave new world is full of bizarre and dangerous foes. Books will be available for sale from Politics & Prose

Artist James Sturm (Satchel Paige: Striking Out Jim Crow, The Golem’s Mighty Swing) signs his new children’s book BIRDSONG at the Takoma Park Library on Monday, April 11, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. Books sold by Politics & Prose.

Inspired by the Japanese art of kamishibai, or “paper theater,” this wordless story is meant to inspire a performance. A boy and girl are cruelly teasing animals in a forest when a frightened bird takes flight. The children give chase up a mountainside and find themselves confronted by a mystical man who has feathers emerging from his clothing. With a flash like lightning, the children are transformed—into monkeys. Eventually captured by humans, they receive some of the cruel treatment they had earlier perpetrated themselves. In keeping with kamishibai tradition, this tale contains a lesson for young readers to discover as they turn the pages.

In the conclusion to this graphic science-fiction trilogy, Zita, who has already proven herself as a cosmic hero by battling monsters and saving worlds, is wrongfully imprisoned, and has to plan a daring escape from the high-security penitentiary planet. Ages 8 – 12.